- So there I was on my knees - arse up in sweltering heat with sweat dripping into my eyes - scrabbling in the bottom of a planting hole - trying to cut pine tree roots with a bendy, blunt & rusty old pruning saw that kept jamming .. when inspiration lit-up my day. "I've got an unused folding Opinel saw in the house .. GO".
Opinel No.12 Saw.
The Opinel 120 Saw features a 12cm carbon steel blade to ensure an outstanding cutting edge, it has an anti-corrosion coating that protects the blade from rust and teeth carved from the block and arranged in two lines. Cutting is effortless with a pull stroke. The handle is varnished beech wood and has a safety locking ring to secure the blade when open and shut. Grown on French farms, Beech wood is hard, strong and easy to work. The colours vary naturally from yellows to pink tones. It is recognisable by the presence of many small dark flecks. The handle is painted allowing for better protected against moisture and dirt. Invented in 1955 by Marcel Opinel, the safety ring (the closing on all knives from No. 06) is cut from stainless steel, and consists of two parts: a fixed part and a sliding part. In addition to locking the blade in the open position (safety in use), it is now possible to lock the blade in the closed position. Ideal for the garden but also for outdoor activities, this small saw proves very handy and efficient.
- Did it do the job?? - You betcha - very easily 😁
Well - as you asked - it is an Arbutus Unedo - a 'Killarny Strawberry Tree' or 'Madrone' that I've planted.
- lovely peeling red bark too .. in a few years time eh - the fruits are edible (just - when over-ripe) but insipid unless you are a hungry frugivorous dickie-bird - but I understand that Mediterraneans make preserves & booze from them.
I have a bit of a thing for the reasonably priced Opinel knives - & must have 7 or 8 of various types. They are good working tools but be warned that their blades will snap if abused (yes I've done it).
Marty K.
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